First Xbox One original series programming to launch in early 2014

The Xbox One is set to become an even more tantalising home entertainment offering, with Microsoft confirming the console’s first original series programming will launch in early 2014.

Following in the footsteps of the likes of Netflix and its House of Cards series, Microsoft has announced that original programming will hit the new Xbox One in the coming months, although exact dates or shows have yet to be confirmed.

“We’re hoping we will be able to put something up in the first quarter, at minimum second quarter,” Nancy Tellem, Microsoft’s President of Digital Entertainment said in a recent interview with Variety.

Although suggested that the process to create and introduce original programming to the Xbox One has been considerably slower than she had liked, Tellem stated: “I’m incredibly ambitious and impatient. Reflecting on what we’ve done and what lies ahead, it’s been pretty good.”

While similarities will be made between Microsoft’s Xbox content and moves made by Netflix and Amazon to introduce their own exclusive programming, Tellem has suggested the console maker will offer something very different.

“We aren’t Netflix, we aren’t Amazon, we’re a different animal,” she said. “We’re neither or we’re a little like them. It all depends. The lack of black and white and this is the template and this is what we’re following is very difficult. As we continue to do deals everyone’s going to get more comfortable.”

She added: “Depending on the piece of content, the deals change. We’re talking about exclusives, exclusive first windows, exclusive second windows. We’re trying to focus on whether it’s only on Xbox or best on Xbox.”

Looking at how the Xbox One could go on to change the full home entertainment industry she added: “We’re in this amazing time where these two worlds are coming together.

“It’s only now that we’re getting comfortable with each other. Everyone recognizes how important content is in device adoption. There’s always talk about what apps are available on your phone or what apps you can get. It can be an incentive to buy something or not to buy something.”